Denton DWI Records Search

Denton DUI and DWI records are kept by the Denton County courts, the Denton Police Department, and the Denton County Sheriff's Office. If you need to look up a DWI case in Denton, you can search through the county clerk for misdemeanor cases or the district clerk for felony charges. The Denton Police Department handles records for incidents inside city limits, while the county sheriff covers unincorporated areas. You can search case records online through the county portal, visit the clerk's office in person, or submit a written public information request. This page covers where to find DWI records, what they contain, and how to access them.

Where to Find Denton DWI Records

DWI records in Denton flow through two separate court systems depending on the offense level. First and second offense DWI cases are Class B and Class A misdemeanors. The Denton County Clerk handles those records at 1450 E. McKinney St., Denton, TX 76209. Their number is (940) 349-2012. Felony DWI cases, meaning a third offense or higher, go through the Denton County District Clerk at the same address. That office can be reached at (940) 349-2200. Both offices are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

The county runs nine district courts that handle felony DWI charges. Felony DWI comes up when a driver has two prior DWI convictions or when the case involves intoxication assault or intoxication manslaughter. The district clerk keeps all filings, judgment documents, and case history for those cases. Misdemeanor cases stay with the county clerk, which is where you go for first and second offense records, deferred adjudication records, and misdemeanor judgment copies.

Note: Denton County uses an integrated online portal for both district and county court case searches. You can search by name, case number, attorney, or date range without creating an account.

How to Search Denton DUI Records

You have a few options for searching DWI records in Denton. The online portal at dentoncounty.gov gives free public access to case information any time of day. Enter a last name to pull up matching cases. Results show the cause number, charge description, case status, and court assignment. You can purchase document copies directly through the portal at $1.00 per page using a credit card.

For arrest records specifically, the Denton Police Department handles cases that happened within city limits. Their records division is at 601 E. Hickory St., Denton, TX 76205, and can be reached at (940) 349-7919. You can submit an open records request online or in person. Typical police reports cost $5.00 and take around 10 business days to process. The reports include the officer's probable cause statement, field sobriety test notes, breath or blood test results, and arrest circumstances.

If you want a certified copy of a court document, you need to request it through the clerk's office either in person or by mail. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee per document. Bring a valid ID and the case number if you have it. Staff can look up cases by name if you don't have the cause number.

DWI Laws and Penalties in Texas

Texas law defines DWI under Texas Penal Code Section 49.04. A person commits DWI when they operate a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated. The state uses two definitions of intoxicated. One is not having normal use of your mental or physical faculties due to alcohol or drugs. The other is having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more. Either can support a charge even if the other test is below threshold.

The penalties depend on how many prior DWI convictions a person has. A first offense is a Class B misdemeanor with a minimum of 72 hours in jail and up to 180 days, plus a fine of up to $2,000. If the driver had an open container, the minimum goes up to six days. A second offense becomes a Class A misdemeanor with 30 days to one year in jail and a fine up to $4,000. Under Section 49.09, a third DWI is a third-degree felony carrying two to ten years in prison and fines up to $10,000. Texas also adds state surcharges on top of those fines, which can reach $6,000.

DWI with a child passenger under 15 is treated differently. Under Section 49.045, that charge is a state jail felony regardless of prior record. It carries 180 days to two years in a state jail facility. A high BAC of 0.15 or more upgrades a first DWI from Class B to Class A, doubling the potential jail time and fine. These records, once filed, are public court documents accessible through the county clerk or district clerk.

Texas also has a zero tolerance rule for drivers under 21. Under Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code Section 106.041, any detectable alcohol is enough for a DUI charge against a minor. That is a Class C misdemeanor for a first offense with a fine up to $500 and mandatory community service.

ALR and License Suspension

After a DWI arrest in Denton, the driver faces two separate processes. One is the criminal case in county or district court. The other is the Administrative License Revocation program run by the Texas Department of Public Safety. These run at the same time and are independent. A driver can win the criminal case and still lose their license through ALR.

When an officer arrests someone for DWI and they fail or refuse a chemical test, the officer takes the driver's license and issues a temporary permit valid for 40 days. The driver has just 15 days to request a hearing with the State Office of Administrative Hearings to contest the suspension. If no hearing is requested, the suspension kicks in automatically on day 40. Under Texas Transportation Code Chapter 524, the suspension period for failing a test is 90 days for a first offense. Refusing the test results in a 180-day suspension for a first refusal. Second offenses carry longer suspensions.

Getting a license back after an ALR suspension requires paying a $125 reinstatement fee to the Texas DPS. Drivers can order their own driving record at dps.texas.gov to confirm status and check for any holds before trying to renew or reapply.

Note: The ALR hearing and the criminal DWI case each have their own deadlines and procedures. Missing the 15-day ALR deadline means the suspension happens whether or not the criminal charges are dropped.

Denton Police and Court Resources

The Denton Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency within city limits. Their records division handles open records requests for arrest reports, incident reports, and accident reports. You can reach them at (940) 349-7919 or visit the department at 601 E. Hickory St. Reports typically cost $5.00 each, and body camera or in-car video footage has a separate processing fee. Complex requests or those involving video can take up to 20 business days.

The Denton County Sheriff's Office covers unincorporated areas of Denton County. Their main line is (940) 349-1600, and they are located at 127 N. Woodrow Ln., Denton, TX 76205. If a DWI arrest happened outside city limits, the sheriff's office is where the arrest report would originate. They also maintain jail booking records, which you can search online at dentoncounty.gov/sheriff for current inmates and recent bookings.

The Texas Courts website provides general information on how DWI cases move through the court system. DPS maintains the statewide criminal history database. You can check conviction records and request a certified criminal history through the DPS Crime Records Division.

The Texas DPS also handles crash reports through TxDOT's crash records portal. If a DWI arrest came with a vehicle crash, that report is a separate document from the police arrest report. It costs $6.00 for a standard copy and $8.00 for a certified copy.

The Denton Police Department handles DUI and DWI arrests within city limits and maintains records for all incidents in their jurisdiction.

Arrest records and police reports from the Denton Police Department are available through a public information request to their records division at (940) 349-7919.

Denton County DWI Records

Denton is the county seat of Denton County. All felony and misdemeanor DWI cases filed in Denton go through the Denton County courts. The county clerk and district clerk maintain public records for all DWI cases filed in Denton County. For full details on the county court system, online search tools, and contact information, visit the Denton County records page.

View Denton County DWI Records

Nearby Cities

Other cities in the North Texas area also maintain DWI records through their respective county courts:

• Lewisville DWI Records
• Carrollton DWI Records
• Round Rock DWI Records